CLiP LAUNCHES THE PACIFIC MARINE LITTER CHALLENGE

The Commonwealth Litter Programme (CLiP) is proud to launch the Pacific Marine Litter Challenge, a competition with categories for children (6 years and up), artists, students and entrepreneurs.

Entrants have until 8 February 2019 to showcase inspirational artworks and ideas about about how to tackle marine litter in the Pacific.

“Marine Litter is everywhere. CLiP will showcase how we can conserve our oceans and using them sustainably. We want to see ideas from artists, students and entrepreneurs in the Pacific about working together to stop this threat” says Thomas Maes, Principal Investigator leading the CLiP project in the Pacific.

Three lucky first prize winning adults have the chance to win a trip to present their ideas at the International CLiP conference in the UK in 2019. In addition, there are thousands of dollars of runner-up prizes to be won.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is supportive of this competition, to see how our young people and entrepreneurs can raise awareness and find solutions to the issues of marine litter. It is by working together (modern and cultural) we can all make a difference to protect our precious oceans” says Toney Tevi, Head of Maritime and Oceans Affairs Division, Vanuatu Dept of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Island residents can enter under the children’s or adult category (only Solomon Islands and Vanuatu residents may apply) where judges will be looking for a drawing, song, video, poem, painting, sculpture or handicraft that most inspires them. For students, entrepreneurs and businesses, entrants may apply from across all Commonwealth Pacific Island countries and the jury will be assessing the freshness, originality and innovation of concepts; evidence of how practical they would be; and how well they are communicated.

Entries will be also showcased at the CLiP regional marine litter conference in Vanuatu between the 18 and 19th February 2018.

CLiP is an initiative of the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), an executive agency of the United Kingdom government Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The Pacific Marine Litter Challenge initiative is in collaboration with the Vanuatu Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and their Oceans Division, Solomon Islands government, TierraMar, WWF and the Vanuatu Environmental Science Society.